Love Never Dies
Page 26
Later, when she was calmer, and after placing the two rosebuds in a tiny glass of water, she approached little Gertie. She and her partner Juanita were reading the first chapter of Charlotte’s Web to each other.
Julia pulled the small child away and spoke quietly, her heart pounding in excitement. “Thank you for the letter from your uncle. What did you say his name was?”
“His name is Mark. Mark Sebastian.” Her hazel eyes were guileless and Julia’s heart quickened.
The rest of the day passed too slowly, until finally the end of the day bell rang at 2:20. Eager parents and siblings showed up at her classroom door to help their sisters, brothers, and friends pack up after the first day. Gertie carefully and methodically placed her polka-dotted lunch box inside of her Barbie bag, as well as the first day information normally distributed to students at the start of each school year.
A plump woman in her mid-fifties materialized beside Gertie and gave her a swift hug and kiss.
“How was your first day sweetie?”
“It was wonderful,” breathed the tiny girl, gazing up into her grandmother’s eyes. She dragged at her grandmother’s hand. “Come meet my new teacher. She’s over here!”
Julia straightened her shoulders and gazed steadfastly at the middle-aged woman approaching her. The woman was of average height, her short brown hair shot through with gray. She possessed shrewd blue eyes underneath gold wire-rimmed glasses and her beige pants suit was tailored and stylish. She stuck out an unhesitant hand to Julia.
“I’m Meredith Johnson, Gertie’s grandmother.”
“And I’m Julia Ann Morris,” said Julia carefully, watching the older woman intently for her reaction.
Gertie’s grandmother gave her a thorough once-over before proceeding. “I just wanted to let you know that Gertie was originally meant to be in first grade, but because of her academic performance and the fact that her birthday is in January we decided to move her up. If there are any problems at all, could you please let me, her mother, or her uncle know, and we’d be happy to meet with you. Gertie will normally catch the bus home, but today I decided to take an hour off from work and make sure everything turned out alright for her.”
“I believe Gertie had a very good first day and she reads so well!” The little girl beamed up at her, the gap in her front teeth immensely appealing.
“I work for the county offices as a postal investigator. Gertie’s mother Elizabeth is a library assistant down at the Santa Barbara Public Library.”
“And Gertie’s uncle?” managed Julia.
“He’s a civil engineer working for the City of Santa Barbara. We’re all in our first week of new jobs and he couldn’t break away today to come and pick up Gertie himself, though Mark said maybe he’ll be able to make it on Friday. He says he’d really like to meet you. Anyway, I need to get Gertie home and have a snack. We’re still unpacking boxes and everything’s in an uproar.”
“You promised you would pick me out some blue butterfly curtains today Grandma,” blurted Gertie, tugging at her grandmother’s sleeve.
“I did indeed; how could I have forgotten? Anyway, it was very nice meeting you Ms. Morris, and I’m sure we’ll be in contact.”
Julia gulped as the stout middle-aged woman pulled her granddaughter’s hand as they headed down the hall, the pink of the girl’s bright backpack glowing in the mid afternoon sun.
A wave of confusion settled down over Julia and her eyes flitted back to the small cup where the two rosebuds nestled against one another as they floated in the small container of water. Julia shuffled papers aimlessly on her desk for a full twenty minutes before finally giving up and heading home, thoroughly unsettled by the whole situation.
That evening at the dinner table, her entire family quizzed Gertie. Her mother Elizabeth was most concerned about whether or not Gertie had finished her lunch, since the girl was a bit underweight.
“I did mommy! I ate all my peanut butter and jelly sandwich just like you said.” Liz Johnson smiled at her daughter, and reaching forward tousled her hair.
“I’m proud of you Gertie and hope you made a good impression on your teacher.”
Gertie chirped up excitedly. “Ms. Morris is the nicest teacher and the prettiest in the whole school. She had her hair done in this interesting braid. I wish you could do my hair like that grandma! And how was your day mommy?” she added politely.
“Very good, I’m enjoying working at the library; it has just the right amount of peace and quiet for this world-weary woman.” Liz raised her blue eyes to her mother, who gave her a reassuring pat upon her too-thin hand.
“And your day Mark?”
Mark Sebastian leaned back in the oak dining room chair and surveyed Meredith Johnson with warm brown eyes. “Just what I expected. I’m getting into the routine and can stumble through my day without too many major fiascos. And so you met her teacher?”
“Yes, she is a lovely young woman and I think Gertrude is going to have a fine year. More pork chops Mark?” Her blue eyes met his and nodded slightly. Their unspoken communication was unrecognized by the excited Gertie, who jabbered to her mother about her busy day and all the new friends she’d met.
Meredith Johnson leaned forward and placed a hand over his. “Remember that patience is a virtue my boy. Slow and steady is our motto, at least for now. You’ve got to hold fast for all our sakes.”
Mark’s teeth clenched and he set down his fork, his brown eyes meeting hers over the table.
“Patience has become my best virtue. I won’t let you or the girls down.” The tall man with the barely noticeable limp left the table, followed by the sympathetic eyes of the woman he’d come to know and love dearly and now referred to as mother. She only wished she could ease his pain and return his life to normal, and she quickly sent a message up to the heavens to make everything work to plan.
The roses faded and the banked coal nestled inside of Julia’s heart still glowed in peaceful slumber as September stretched to an end. Julia stopped waiting in anticipation for a meeting with Mark Sebastian who never arrived to pick up his niece, though she found it difficult to shove her hopes aside. That final Sunday in September Julia made a belated visit to Seth’s grave. She didn’t know what motivated her to visit the empty grave, since he wasn’t really buried underneath the marble headstone, but somehow it comforted her to see his name engraved upon the white rock and remember his passionate hands upon her willing body.
Julia sat back and talked to him, her fingers playing with little stubbles of freshly mown grass as she related to him all the tidbits regarding her week and new students. She even mentioned Gertie to him and how she’d hoped the envelope from the child’s uncle had really been from him. A shadow passed over the gravestone and Julia glanced up, the sun casting the stranger’s entire body into shadow. The glow surrounding his silhouette appeared like an aura and suddenly her heart began to glow and expand.
Julia reached her hand up to try to shade her eyes as he moved, and a tall man in a leather jacket and blue jeans stood quietly before her. His face was one she did not recognize; the hair a golden brown crown over eyes of milk chocolate set above a straight and slightly arrogant nose. His full lips were pursed below high cheekbones as his searching eyes peered at her from behind wire-rimmed glasses. He remained motionless for the longest moment, simply gazing down at her before he spoke. His voice was rich and deep, and irrelevantly she wondered if he was a singer.
“Do you come here often?” he asked, the glow within her spreading until her very fingertips tingled with it.
“No,” she managed to croak out, “not often. But today I felt like I needed to talk to a friend.”
“It’s strange,” he observed, peering across the wide expanse of well-manicured lawn with its pristine row of white headstones, “but this place holds no trepidation or fear for me. It’s instead peaceful and welcoming.” His eyes cast downward to the tombstone and he read the words engraved there aloud.
“Seth Hayes, 1970-2004. Love Never Dies. Was he your husband?”
“No, my fiancé; well almost.”
“It’s hard to say goodbye to those who meant so much to us. But you know, I have come to the conclusion after all these years that things always work out for the best.” His dark eyes scanned the quiet graveyard. “I also realize that sometimes things are not what they seem. A person dies and moves on to another place, but they leave so much of themselves behind that their life was not futile or lived in vain. I just hope whoever I’ve loved will never forget me.”
“That’s exactly what Seth hoped.”
He smiled down at her. “Perhaps I’d better introduce myself. My name is Mark Sebastian and I’m Gertie Johnson’s uncle.”
The glow enveloped her completely as she peered up into his gentle brown eyes. “My fiancé here said that love never dies and I believe him. I still feel him around me and near me, enveloping my very being because I shared his soul. So how did you know I was here Mr. Sebastian?”
“A good friend told me,” he said, extending a hand to help haul her to her feet. Julia brushed the grass off her beige trousers. “I would have liked to have known your fiancé. He must have been a very fortunate man.”
“I was the fortunate one,” said Julia joyfully, “and I have a feeling that little Gertie is as well.”
“Would you care to go for a walk, madam?” he asked, presenting an arm. She hesitated only a moment before looping hers in his and they walked in the bright sunshine as the sparrows chattered and the marble on Seth’s tombstone glowed in contentment.
Epilogue
It was a simple ceremony that flower-filled June, at the very same Congregational Church where Seth’s empty casket lay buried behind the sanctuary. Julia’s brother, sister-in-law, and parents beamed, and in Angie’s arms bounced a round-eyed cherub of a toddler who miraculously kept quiet during the entire service, content to play with his father’s often-lost car keys. Gertie was present as well, feeling proud and grown up and ecstatically delighted her teacher was now marrying her uncle.
Mark Sebastian looked magnificent in his somber black tux and smiled at Gertie’s grandmother and mother, who sat with their hands clasped together, certain happy endings truly did happen. The church was not packed by any means. Connie Fernandez and her irrepressible secretary, Kerry, were present; along with a subdued Alvaro who wondered if his girlfriend just might be getting the wrong idea. A few teaching friends and new acquaintances Mark had made at the county offices also attended, but overall it was a quiet wedding.
As the bride kissed her new husband, she smiled into his kind, brown eyes, eager to start a new life, and turned toward the applauding audience before giving a graceful curtsey, her green eyes shining with joy. The reception was a dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and everyone sat and drank and toasted, and until quite late did all those wonderful things everyone does on their wedding day. Finally, Mark rose to set off with his bride to the island paradise of Maui for a full week-long honeymoon.
Meredith sidled up to him for one last hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” she whispered. “Did you see him?”
Mark nodded and swallowed heavily. If only he could have spoken to Lucas, but regrettably the man had remained in the foyer during the entire wedding ceremony, trying to blend into the shadows. He’d worn dark, obscuring sunglasses and a long brown trench coat even on this warm June morning, his unruly long hair falling over the collar. He’d given a brief thumb’s up to Mark before disappearing out of the arched doorway, his golden blonde hair glinting in the sunlight for a brief second before the sunny day swallowed up the refugee. Mark felt warm contentment steal over him. At least he knew that Lucas was safe and he sent out a small prayer to protect that fine man.
Meredith leaned forward and placed her arms around his neck. “You know,” she said. “If I could have picked you for a relative I would have.” And with that lovely statement, Mandy Gaskill kissed him soundly upon the cheek. It had been easier for all of them to disappear together to form a new family unit, and now their family had grown, encompassing the entire Morris clan and the lovely serene Julia. “Take care of her Mark,” she whispered, and he promised her with a squeeze of his hand.
Their honeymoon condominium faced the ocean as unruly white waves curled and crashed against the sandy shoreline. The newlyweds felt no hurry that morning to venture to the sea and bake in the sun. Tide pools lined a small inlet and a placid seawater lagoon beckoned the snorkeler, but they made no move to rise. All that would come later. Instead, Mark Sebastian reached for his bride and cradled her within the circle of his strong arms. He looked different this morning, the brown contact lenses for once missing and allowing his eyes to reveal their true silver-gray. His new wife’s hand strayed down toward his abdomen, touching briefly the intricate tattoo located there. They lingered over the entwined roses and Seth smiled as a tear of pure joy slipped from her eye. He kissed it away, savoring its saltiness.
“It’s true you know; everything I said,” he whispered.
“I know,” she sighed. “I just wish… I wish that you could be who you really are.”
“And who is that really, except your husband? Seth, Simon, Steven, they’re all men of the past and you must let them hide in your memory; it’s safest that way. You promised me, Julia, that you would only call me Mark, and even here in this private quiet place you must refer to me by the name you dubbed me so many months ago. Your brother, parents, sister-in-law, and later on, whatever children we parent need never know.”
“And Lucas?”
“Maybe there will be a time when he can come out of the cold himself. Wouldn’t it be lovely if the day arrived when Mandy could state her real name aloud? But until that day, my love, we have to remain strong and cautious for each other and them. Our secret is safe here,” and with that Seth tapped his heart, where the banked fire of their combined souls burned and comforted, soothing any doubts she may ever have had. “Because I was right, you know.”
“Yes” she said softly, repeating the words she knew he was thinking. “Because love never dies.”
“No,” he agreed, “it never does.”
The End
Table of Contents
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter 10
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue